Built by Henry VIII mostly between 1531 and 1536, St. James's palace has been a residence of the British monarchy for over 300 years, and though everyone flocks to Buckingham Palace to catch a glimpse of her majesty, St. James's remains the official royal residence. Ambassadors are still accredited to the court of St James, though welcomes and afternoon tea is still subsequently held at Buckingham Palace.
The palace is still a busy working palace, hosting receptions for the plethora of charities the Royal family engage with (over 100, at last count), while the state apartments are frequently used during incoming state visits and other formal and ceremonial occasions. Crucially, the palace serves an important ceremonial function after the passing of a monarch - the Accession Council meets after the death and it is from here that a new monarch is proclaimed.
Of late, the palace is a former residence of HRH The Prince of Wales and his sons Princes William and Harry (although they have since moved to neighbouring Clarence House) and is now home to Princess Anne. Diana lived here until her divorce to Prince Charles in 2006.
The Details
The palace is closed to the public, but its central location at the end of Pall Mall makes it very convenient to pop one's head around the corner to have a look at the imposing gates and Tudor façade. The nearest tube stations are St. James's Park and Charing Cross.
Head out of London to uncover the charms of the English countryside on a full-day tour that takes you to several famous, historical sites. See picturesque Windsor; marvel at ancient Stonehenge, and stop off at the Roman baths for a drink at the Pump Room.
Embark on a wonderful dinner cruise on the River Thames as you feast on a 4-course meal. Enjoy a live performance and dance into the night as you cruise past London's illuminated monuments.
Take the bus from central London for this magical full-day tour of the Warner Brothers Studio. Go behind the scenes of the Harry Potter film sets to explore the enchanting props and costumes, and walk in the footsteps of your favorite characters.
See the UK capital's top attractions at your own pace with this 24-, 48- or 72-hour hop-on hop-off bus pass. Get access to 4 self-guided walking tours and a Thames cruise. 3 routes and 45 stops.
Visit mysterious Stonehenge, see the Magna Carta, go inside 13th-century Salisbury Cathedral, enjoy a welcome talk and discover Windsor Castle.
Explore the city of Cardiff on a day trip from London. Discover the historic port city with a local guide before visiting Cardiff Castle, one of Wales' leading heritage attractions.
Travel back in time on a day tour of 2 of England’s most historic attractions from London. Enjoy an exclusive, private viewing of the sun rise over the prehistoric stone circle of Stonehenge. Then, marvel at the Georgian buildings and Roman baths of Bath.
Visit the sites where The Beatles lived, worked, and loved by London taxi. See the famous Abbey Road Studios and have your photo taken crossing the famous crossing from The Abbey Road album cover.
Enjoy a full-day excursion from London on a small-group tour that takes you to visit top filming sites from the global hit TV series, Downton Abbey. Explore Downton village and Downton Abbey and relive aristocratic life of a century ago.
My Guide London is part of the global My Guide Network of Online & Mobile travel guides.
We are now in 120+ Destinations and Growing. If you are interested in becoming a local travel partner and would like to find out more then click for more info about our Website Business Opportunity.
Filter Events by Sub-Category
Please select a Date first.
